Fire-extinguisher.



J. L. WlLDS.'

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

'APPLICATION F ILED FEB. 11. 1915.

Patented May 30, 1916.

- 1? Yam 'tling at Chiof 1 Illinois, have seful Improveof which the lane for autoage taken automatically n r and maths-y [are mixed or come 1 j rsej wen known in the art d at forms part of my deuised for maintaining the Wuntil they are to be disn ngu' ischarge ltliernojver the fire.

nnection haveyshown a perspecthee drarjs in gs, I make use rsw ;placed*in any suitable two iliquids which; when l{[coniiectcl thereto at variippl separately different i lfor iiiro ducing the fire wILiis,wor oii oseo, mruoisjaseieuon or oireiraruro ma n M. a K 1?0L1L&I(IUS,OF GHICAGD, rumors. a

L Wines, a citih containjyolatile and easily a terial suchjias light oils and a its conterriplatesthe use of two gas or foam which will a eaiid extinguishit. Such' o rela es to theefiicien t nieans ingbjthelire and to then roperlyj mix the two offlthe invention will I pm-es from he following description [theipointflwhere it is desired u! separate tanks and con xtinguishing compound] lli w stooclthat in a bu lding Z he eipipes 2 and 3 may 1 have fluidflform ggno part; of the ut the following is an exmayroiitain a solution ser es a, a a

FIREJJXTINGUZSHER.

I peoification of Letters Patent. Patented 313 ,349 jl-gjiifi hp pl icationhlecl February 11.1915. Seria11o.fi,837. i I r i consisting approximately of one ounce of commercial salicylic acid, pounds commercial sodium bicarbonate, 2 pounds boiled flake glue and gallons of water. The solution in the .i'anlz connected to the pipe 3 may consist approximately of 31-7; pounds a commercial alum, 10 ounces sulfuric acid nd l5 gallonsof Water; A number of suit ablefn'e cigtn guishing solutions are known and thereiore I do not-Wish to be restricted merely as an example, i

In the use of twotliquids whichare to be mixed to form the extinguishing gas or fluid, it is essential to the best results that the supply of the two liquids coinmenceat exactly. the same time so that they will be mixed together and discharged in the form of the foam or gas to extinguish the fire and I have found that it is not possible to get the proper operation by making use of two separate to anv special solutions but give the above v automatic discharge valves operated by heat torelease the two liquids. Where two such valves are used, one is likely to operate be fore the other and the discharge of that liquid, not in the form ot' thc gas, will or may. interfere with the operation of theother autol'ha'tic valve, According to my invention therefore the two liquids are mixed in a single pipe and escape from a single discharge head or automatic wire, as mentioned above, the single sprinkler head acting automatically to permit the discharge.

In order to keep the liquidsseparate normally when there is no fire and at the same time to cause both to be mixed amldischarged together as soon as the automatic valve in the discharge opens I proviiile a connection between the. two separate pipes at and 5 to the discharge so constructed that a liquid seal can he formed therein to main in their epaiatei liipes. I do this by form ing a bend or gooseneck in the plpes 4; and 5 in'the \"lCilllllly oi thetankwhere thelextain the lire extinguishing liquids separate tinguishing operation is to take placeand H I place within the discharge head. and: in the upwardly extending portion of this bend a neutral liquid which is of less specific i t gravity than, either of the liquids in pipes 4 andS and which will not produce any chemical reaction with those liquids I may use for this purpose glycerin or suitable light oil.

It Will be observed as shown n the drawing that the pipes/i and 5 have the upwardly extending portions 6 and 7 in which I place valves 8 and 9 and above these valves the two pipes join and connect with the pipe 10 leading tothe sprinkler discharge head 11. A filling cup 12 provided with a valve 13 may be placed at the upper part of the upward bends of the pipe and through it the light oil may be supplied to the pipe 10 all the way to the discharge head 11 and also in the pipes 6 and 7 down to the valves 8 and 9. It will be understood that the valves 8 and 9 are closed before the light oil is supplied through the cup 12 and after these parts are full of the light oil the valve 13 is closed and the valves 8 and 9 are opened. The liquids in the pipes t and 5 being heavier than the lightoil will remain sepa- 10 down to the sprinkler rate and will simply press against the lower end. of the column of oil in the two pipes. In other words, the two fire extinguishing liquids cannot reach the pipe 10 or come in contact with each other until the light oil is discharged. If, however, the sprinkler head 11 is operated by the openingof the heat controlled valve therein the light oil will flow out of the sprinkler head. into the tank 14- where the fire is and the liquids in the pipes 6 and 7 will gradually rise until they mix in the pipe 10 and they will then proceed from that point to the discharge and the resulting gas or foam will then be discharged into the tank 14 over the fireand will extinguish it.

I may make use of any preferred form of discharge head for the extinguishing gas but I prefer to place over the head a shield 15 which serves to catch the heat from the fire in the tank 1 1 and to thus operate the automaticvalve more certainly and more quickly. This shield furthermore spreads and directs the extinguishing gas over the surface of the material in the tank. In my system I preferably'place valves 16 and 17 in the two pipes i and 5 at some distance from the bend or goose neck and from the discharge so that the supply of the two liquids may be shut oflafter the fire is extinguished without ztpproaching the tank, where the, fire occurred, too closely. These valves are of course normally open when the system is ready for its automatic operation.

It will be noted that no checks or other obstructions are placed in the pipes leading from the tanks to supply the said liquid.

My invention is not limited to the use oi a neutral liquid as a'seal which is of less specific gravity than the fire extinguishing liquids since a neutral liquid having a greater specific gravity may be used for the purpose. When such heavier liquid is used it will be understood that it will fill the pipe discharge head and will also fill the adjacentlparts of the branch 5 supply pipes extending to that part of those pipes where the supply of liquid moves downward in traveling to the point of discharge.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with two pipes adaptedto separately convey two liquids under pressure capable when mixed of ii'qrming a fire extinguishing gas, of a discharge pipe with which said two conveying pipes communicate' and in which said liquids come together the said two conveying wardly extending charge pipe, means for introducing into said discharge pipe and upwardly extending portions a neutral liquid of less specific gravity than those in said pipes whereby said liquid will be trapped to prevent said two liquids from enterin the discharge pipe and mixing until the c ischarge is opened.

' 2. In a. device of the class described, the combination with two pipes adapted to separately convey two liquids under pressure capable when mixed offorming a fire extinguishing gas, of a discharge pipe with Which said two conveying pipes communicate and in which saidliquids come together the said two conveying pipes having upwardly extending portions near said discharge pipe.

in which a neutral liquid gravity than those in said pipes is adapted to be trapped to prevent said liquids from entering the discharge pipe and mixing until the discharge is opened, valves'for said up wardly extending supplying above said valves.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with an open top tank adapted to contain easily inflammable liquid material, of two pipes for separately conveying to the vicinityof said tank two liquids under pressure capable when mixed of'forming a fire extinguishing gas, a discharge head with which said pipes communicate directed over the contents of said tank and provided with an automatic heat operated outlet valve, an upwardly neck bend in each of said of less specific portions, and means for the lighter liquid to the portions extending goose If. pipes near said.

discharge head, xnleans at the upper part of said bond for and upwardly extending portions witha neutral liquid oi less specific gravity than saidtwo fire extinguishing liquids, and hand operated cut oil valves in said two pipes for shutting off the supply after the fire is extinguished.

4-. An apparatus for automatically-extinguishing fires in open top tanks containing volatile and easily inflammable oils and similar materials in buildings comprising in combination a'tank, a pair of pipes for separately conveying to the vicinity of said in}; said discharge head.i

tank two liquids under pressure capable tral liquid of lighter specific gravity than said first mentioned liquids into said discharge member and the upwardly extending portionsof said pipes to form a seal preventing the mixing of saidliquids.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with two pipes ada ted to separately convey two liquids un er pressure capable when mixed of forming a fire extinguishing gas, of a discharge pipe with wh1ch said two conveying pipes commumcate and in which said liquids come together the said two conveying pipes being provided with valves and having upwardly extending portions near said discharge pipe in which a neutral liquid of diflerent specific gravity is adapted to be trapped to prevent said liquids from entering the discharge pipe and mixing until the discharge is opened and means for introducing said neutral liquid.

In testimony whereofi I aiflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. WILDS. Witnesses:

J. EARL STEWART, J. LE DALIN. 

